Life-saving raft.



D. HOOPER.

LIFE SAVING RAFT. APPucATloN FILED ocT. 29, 1911.

Patented June 11, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D, HooPER.

LIFE SAVING RAFT.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 29, |911.

Patented June 11,v 1918.

LIFE-SAVING RAFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented une 11, 1918.

Application filed October 29, 1917. Serial No. 198,930.

To aZZ whom t may concern Be it knownthat I, DOROTHY I-IoorER, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Nahant, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Rafts, of which the following is a speci- `ication.

This invention relates to life saving rafts and the object in view `is to provide a raft having an inflatable body, preferably conn structed to provide a number of independent airtight compartments thereby insuring the buoyancy and load carrying capacity of the raft even when pierced by shells, projectiles or other objects.

A fu-rther Vobject of theV invention is to produce a life saving raft which may be eompactly stowed away, preferably on the deck of a vessel, enabling a large number of such rafts to be piled one upon another.

`The rafts may be quickly inflated and thrown overboard in ease there is not time to lower the boats.

Oneuof the principal objects of the invention is to produce a raft of the character referred to which may bensed either side up, equipment of .the raft comprising a guard rail or fence which may be applied tothe raft regardless to which side is up when the raft is thrown into the water; also oar locks which maybe applied to either side `of the raft, and a rudder which may be inverted while the raft is in the water.

With the above and other objects in view,

the invention consists in the novel construction,xcombination and arrangement ofparts,

herein described, illustrated and claimed.

Inzthe accompanying drawings Figure` 1 is a plan view of the life saving fait.` i, v

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig..` 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sec` tion showing the manner of constructing and holding one of the stanchion sockets.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the comprises a body 1 which is in the form of an inflatable bag or sack of rubber or other material which is impervious to air and which will remain inflated for an indenite period of time. The interior of the bag or sack is divided by means of flexible partitions 2 composed of rubber or other airtight material or fabric into independenty air-tight compartments 3, each being equipped with an inflating valve et.

Extending around the forward portion of the body isa band 5 of cork or other buoyant material, the same being stitched, riveted or otherwise fastened to the body l. It is also preferred to form the stern of the section 6 of the body, of cork and at the extreme rear of thestern section G, I place a rudder 7 having a rudder post 8 which extends through an opening 9 formed partly in fixed bearing` plate 10 riveted or otherwise secured to the stern 6, and hinged or displaceable plates or keepers 11 which may be folded back to allow the rudder post 9 to be removed in order that the rudder may be inverted, or the rudder post turned end for end. This enables the rudder to be properly set after the raft has been thrown overboard, in case the raft should land in the water wrong side up.

Extending along the opposite sides of the raft are reinforcing' strips l2 of heavy canvas or other strong flexible material and secured to said straps 12 are stanchion sockets 13 open at top and bottom. The sockets 13 are securely fastened to the'bands 12 and each socket is adapted to receive one of a series of stanchions 14, the stanchions being connected bv a iiexible net 15 forming afence designed to extend entirely around the body 1 for the protection of the oecupants ofthe raft, to 'prevent them from being washed oif the raft when there is a heavy sea running. Each stanchion 14 is formed with a stop shoulder or collar 16 whichwhen the stanchion is in place, abuts against the upper end of the socket 13. A pin 17 is attached to each stanchion 111 by means of a flexible connection 18 such as a chain and when the stanchion is in place, the pin 17 is inserted through holes 19 in the socket and also through a hole 20 in the stanchion. This prevents the stanchion from getting loose.

Strips 21 preferably of flexible material such as canvas, are stitched or otherwise secured to the strips l2 and are designedto receive and hold a plurality of paddles 22 Which are thus accessible to persons on the raft irrespective of which side "is up. Launching rings or eyes 23 are permanently fastened to the sides of the raft for the purposebf enabling the raft tobe raised and loweredlby ropes or other tackle. y

From the foregoing descriptontaken iin connection with the accompanying drawings it will now befseenthat :I have produced a lifesaving raft which isllight in Weight, Whichmay be compactlystored, 4enabling a large number of such rafts to be piled one uponanother in compact order, requiring a minimum amount of space. The raft maybe quickly iinflated and When so inflated and throivnrinto the Water, it `will support alarge number of persons. `It -Will of course be understood that the raft may be made in any size desired. `Vhenusedon transports,:it will be made of considerable sizeso as to accommodate a great number of soldiers. Byreason of the construction described and shown, the raftmaybe thrown overboard in anemergency where there is no time to lower the usual life boats. `Irrespective ofwhicliside of the raft is up When it strikes the ivateigthe guard rail. oiwfence, and the rudder may be adjusted, ,andpaddles are accessible. .The fenceor` guard,.by reason of the flexibility thereof, may berolled upin a bundle and lashed tothe side of the mattress .and may `be readily sety in.l position in .a short time. :The corkstern andi the cork band extending aroundtheibow .of-theraft increase the buoyancy thereof .and insure the same iioating in case theraft should. be thrown overboard before Vbeing inflated. :It Will be obvious that the raft cannot .be dashedto piecesin a heaVy-seaby coming in i forcible contact .with the. hull lof .a vessel asthe construction of the raftis flexible throughout.

' l'n dangerwzones in time of war, one or more rafts may be lkept in an inflated condition readyifor immediateuse. The rafts maylbeinfiated While stillipiled one.` upon another. Where the rafts areformedf'vvith more than oneiairtight compartment, a` corresponding number ofv nflating pumps may be supplied with each raft so that in case of necessity a number of persons mayhandle Vpartments of the raft.

One or more lpumps 24: may be mounted upon the raft anddlexible connections 25 may leadto the intake valves 26 connected with each of the air compartments of the raft. This .will expedite the inflationof all of the air compartments.

l. A. life saving raft comprising a flexible and inflatable body, aiiiexible ,guard rail extending around said.` bodyqand .comprising a series of stanchions, andtubular sockets for said stanchions. -extending transversely of the marginal portion, of. the; body, saidsockets being open at. both ends.

2. nA life savingraft comprising aflexible and inflatable body, a flexible guard rail extending aroundsaid body and comprising a series of stanehions, and tubular. sockets for said `stanchions extending.transversely of the marginal portion ofthe body, saidsockets being open `atboth.ends,..eachof said stanchions'being formed with a stop )shoulder adaptedzto rest against'theQupper .extremity of the respective socket.

3. A lifesaving raft comprisinga'flexible and inflatable body, a flexible .guard rail` extending around said body andcomprising a series of stanchions,` tubular socketsfor said stanchions extending transversely .of `the marginal .portion of i the body, said i, sockets.

being open ,atxboth ends, andtapin secured by a flexible connection to Meach .stanchion and adapted to beinserted through .holes in each socket andstanchion forlocking the stanchions in place.

4. A life. saving raft. comprising. a .flexible and inflatable body, an 1 invertiblerudder7 and bearing means for the. post .ofsaid rudder, said bearing mea-ns comprisinga fixed plate-and a displaceable plate,` said plates being formed intheir meetingaedges vvtlra bearing opening. fon the rudder post.

5. A* life saving raftcomprisingia; flexible and-inflatablefbody, av band of eorkextendingaround the boWof the raft,. and.an .after deck or stern portion comprisingacorklsection flexibly. connectedl to the main .body .of theraft.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

DOROTHY HOOPER.

Copies of. this patentfmaybeobtained for..frv'e. .cents each, .by addressing the Commissioner,.fwiratents, Washington, D. G. 

